Title :
Characterization of a low-noise linearized microwave power amplifier module
Author :
Joo, Ji Han ; Choi, Jin Joo
Author_Institution :
Sch. of Electron. Eng., Kwangwoon Univ., Seoul, South Korea
fDate :
5/1/2005 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
An X-band, low-noise, linearized microwave power amplifier module consisting of a low-noise solid-state amplifier (SSA), predistortion linearizing circuit, and low-gain helix traveling wave tube (TWT) is designed and tested in order to demonstrate both reduced noise figure and suppressed intermodulation distortion ratio. Two-tone intermodulation distortion (IMD) ratios are predicted from simulations obtained from modeling of the TWT, linearizing circuit, and SSA by the use of Agilent´s Advanced Design System simulation code. Simulated IMD ratios are in good agreement with measured results. Measurements show a noise figure of 2.2 dB at 9.5 GHz and the third-order IMD ratio of -53 dBc at 10 dB input back off from the input P1dB point. It is found that both noise figure and IMD ratio are significantly improved compared with conventional helix-TWTs and microwave power modules.
Keywords :
circuit simulation; intermodulation distortion; linearisation techniques; microwave power amplifiers; travelling wave amplifiers; 2.2 dB; 9.5 GHz; Agilent´s Advanced Design System; helix traveling wave tube; intermodulation distortion; linearized microwave power amplifier; predistortion linearizing circuit; simulation code; solid-state amplifier; Circuit simulation; Circuit testing; Distortion measurement; Intermodulation distortion; Low-noise amplifiers; Microwave amplifiers; Noise figure; Predictive models; Predistortion; Solid state circuits; Intermodulation distortion; microwave power module; noise figure; traveling wave tube;
Journal_Title :
Electron Devices, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TED.2005.845812